Celtics 120 @ Rockets 123 Post-game Notes (44-20)

[GrandTheftRondo]

Monroe and Morris starting to play well..... crickets for the haters.

Been on the positive Monroe train for awhile but can't say the same for Morris.

Hey people were expecting Monroe to average 20/15 straight off the bat, takes time!

Monroe was still trash defensively.

[Tyakack]

I'm already over it. We played arguably the best team in the NBA tough on the road and could have easily won. Just fell short. Not losing sleep over this.

[Green89]

Been on the positive Monroe train for awhile but can't say the same for Morris.

Hey people were expecting Monroe to average 20/15 straight off the bat, takes time!

Monroe was still trash defensively.

Not as bad as Baynes was to start the game.

[reload141]

Been on the positive Monroe train for awhile but can't say the same for Morris.

Hey people were expecting Monroe to average 20/15 straight off the bat, takes time!

Monroe was still trash defensively.

He murdered it for the Bucks off the bench in the PO’s last year, he will do it again this year

[Green89]

I'm already over it. We played arguably the best team in the NBA tough on the road and could have easily won. Just fell short. Not losing sleep over this.

It’s not really that as much as it’s putting us 3 games back in the loss column for the 1 seed.

[GoCeltics123]

Hey people were expecting Monroe to average 20/15 straight off the bat, takes time!

Monroe was still trash defensively.

He murdered it for the Bucks off the bench in the PO’s last year, he will do it again this year

And what team did he kill?

The Raptors

[Taget]

The Rockets have the best record in the NBA and are red hot with an incredible winning streak where they are blowing out teams and scoring 140+ points. We've seen Harden score ridiculous points this season.

We again prevented Harden from blowing up. Led them most of the game and lost in a nail biter where the result was in doubt to the bitter end. All this without home court advantage and much help from the refs with off nights from our all-stars.

I prefer a win but I'll take this loss as a practice session for when we hopefully meet up with them again in the finals!

[CelticTillDeath]

How anyone can be happy with this performance is beyond me. This was a terrible loss. It was right around 2 minutes left in the game and we had I believe a 5 or 6 point lead. The rockets proceeded to go on a 12-2 run? With 2 minutes left? That’s pathetic.

Oh, and I praise Kyrie constantly, but this game was his worst of the season and it came at the most inoportune time. In those last 2 minutes he had a missed layup that led to an ariza 3. Then he threw a horrendous pass that got picked off and turned into a gordon(?) 3 pointer. Then the free throws at the end? Are you kidding me? You get two tries to miss a free throw and you make one and throw another off the backboard? I’m genuinely angry with Kyrie tonight. If he wants a superstar label, he can’t play this horribly in such big games against the best competition. Just so many bad plays from Kyrie tonight. So many bad passes. So many bad decisions. Defensively he got abused all night. When his shot isn’t falling, and he’s sloppy with the ball, he’s completely useless.

Our 2 all stars were -22 and -18 last time I checked. What a wasted game. We should have won this one.

[Kalela]

I am not that bothered with this loss because I feared the Celtics would get embarrassed tonight. With that said Horford, Rozier and Kyrie were really bad at the end. Rozier allowing Tucker and Paul to strip him was bad. Horford allowing Harden to get a layup by getting out of his way was disgusting.

Watch on YouTube

[RB34]

Great game, bench went hard. Shame those T’s come back to haunt us.

[GoCeltics123]

You guys proved you are the best team in the East. That may have been a finals preview.

I mean didn't the Raps beat them in Houston?

But we played well, yes. Still gotta prove it in playoff time though.

[Setshot33]

Going to the grocery store to check the milk cartons for Horford and Kyrie's picture. Need to find them quick!

Nice to see Mook and Moose find their game tonight.

[CelticsLV]

[The Corey's]

Play of the game goes to Jeff can Gundy for requesting they send in their female reporter to see if a player was taken a piss break.

[radcot]

I hate losing as much as anyone, but some losses you can live with because they show growth and promise. This is one of those losses. Prior to the All-Star break the Rockets would have served us our asses in cream sauce. Tonight they needed their A game to just about squeak a W out.

Not to pile on Horfie (well, I guess I am), but here's my vote for revealing stat of the night: Monroe +23, Horford -22.

[Green89]

My stat of the night:

Smart and Tatum played about the same minutes tonight, but Smart took 12 shots and Tatum took 6. They both made 4 shots.

[K For Three]

I was cautiously optimistic. We had beaten the Warriors/Rockets/Spurs at home. Then lost to all 3 on the road. It's just getting those road wins for us vs. elite teams is proving to be tough in the clutch..... This one was right there, but it feels like this team has not always learned yet to finish. They can learn though by using this to fuel them moving forward.

Would like to see us get a few big wins though before the regular season is over. Preferably beating the Raptors/Wizards would be nice. Raptors bench is scary but if our bench keeps soaring our chances will improve in the east.

I can imagine this will bother Kyrie too, he takes these sorts of games personally and they do get in his head. I think he will make up for it later. Kyrie isn't a choker as his history has shown but games like this will really fuel him. Although I notice Kyrie brings his A game more for the Warriors when we play West teams, he gets more fired up vs. Steph Curry.

[GrandTheftRondo]

Hey people were expecting Monroe to average 20/15 straight off the bat, takes time!

Monroe was still trash defensively.

He murdered it for the Bucks off the bench in the PO’s last year, he will do it again this year

If he’s seeing the floor in the playoffs for significant minutes then our defence will be absolutely rooted.

[CelticsPride18]

Al Horford is on his post ASB struggle the same thing happened last season. BS should give him a few days off to get his legs back.

[ConstableGeneva]

Obviously not thrilled with loss and that we lost a late lead with careless execution and mental mistakes. But I'm more confident than I ever was about our team in prep for playoffs. This is not the same team that came from London and before ASB. We can hang with any team. Horford and Irving with subpar games and we almost beat the hottest team in the league on their home turf.

The "almost" part hurts a bit but I'm over it already. On to next one.